Gum-breaking machine



sept. 7, 1926.

w. B. RANNEY ET AL GUM BREAKING maxima' Filed oci. 1 192s v sheets-sheet1 www, Nw NN w. B. RNNEY Er Al. GUM BREAKING MAcHins Flled Oct l 1923 7Sheets-Sheet 2 sept.- 7,1926.

' 1,598,879 w. ya. RANNEY' Er A1.

GUIBREAKING MACHINE l Filed oct. 1.' 1923 v sheets-sheet s 1 i i, 46 f7mul i ZM/wow@ M/wss; Y i l y juden/tores' Sept. 7 1926..

w. B. RANNEY x-:T AL

GUM BREAKING MACHINE mw N xxsl w Sept. 7 1926.

w. B. RANNEY Er Al."

'GUM BREAKING uncanny JOE/@6071,

Sept. 7 1926.

w. B. RANNEY Er Al.

GUM BREAKING MACHINE Filed ost. 1. 192s 7 Sheets-Sheef, 6

Swept.. 7 1926. 1,598,879

w. B'. RANNEY Er Al.

GUM BREAKING MACHINE med out. 1. 1925 v Smets-sheet v Patented Sept. 7,17926.

Y' En sfrmies;

` n 1598er PATE-.NT OFFICE- WILLET" B. RANNEY ND`A'RTHUR" E; JOHNSON,OF" CHICAGO, `ILLI-NOIS',V .ASSIGrlTORS'y TOXVM. WRIGLEY, JR'. CO.,OFfCHIC'AGO, ILLNOYIS, A' CORPORATION WEST VIR- GINIA;

A'pplicationled Getohcr 1, 1923; SerialNo. 665,836;

Thisv inventioni relates to a gum breaking machine and more particularlyto amachine adaptedfforl use in the manufacture of cheivingygum for thepurpose of breaking up ythe sheets of gum into the form of sticks forintroduction into a f Wrapping; machine.y f

In'4 the manufacture of chewing.. gum the final' operation of preparing.the gum foi` Wrapping, isthat of breakingv up the scored sheets intostick-form. A sheet may 'consist .ot any number "off connected sticks,but. for the purpose of: describingrthe machine embodying theinventioma' sheet Will be considered as: consisting of a row of 25-sticks` connected along.. their. sidey edges.- The sticks are usuallyfed into the Wrapping machine by means of'av vertical chute invvhichlthe sticks are piled one'iuponfthe other.v

' Heretofore itV has been the practice to break up the sheets by4 hand.and feeding the nto the Wrapping.machin-e, andsin the following. manner1 A; pile of:y sheetsof say l() or l24 in number, arebroken up'simul-zltaneouslybyf bending. and then breaking: successive verticalY rows ofsticks'ifromfone end of the' pile, these vertical. rows being`introducedV int the feed. chute of the. Wrapping machine..

The object of thisinvention .is to provide a machine which willaccomplishthe same Work heretofore"accomplishedlby hand, butcharacteristic oflaborsaving machines yit isv automatic in itsoperation. and isicapable of handlingmuch larger. quantities of gum'thanis possible by hand labor. The machine is designed. to eliminatey allVhandling.' of the l ne 0um other thanv maintaining: a` supply vof sneetsin a magazine providedfor the .purpose.v A preferred embodiment. of theinvention will be described-in connection with the accompanyingdrawingsin which:

Fig. l is a general/.yum7 infront. elevation ofthe machine;

Fig; 'Qris a topplan vieiv of the=machine- F 8 is a view ofthe machinevin rear elevation.

Fig. l is aL view in horizontal section of the machine as taken on line4, 4:- of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 an enlarged' detailed view in 'ront elevationof the pile supporting table :ml breaker' mechanism during; the sheet' Loperation;

lbroken bv Fig. 5a isv` a cross sectional view-.taken on line 53,5 ofFig. 5.` i i.

F 5b is an enlarged'detailed vien7 offthev locking deviceassociatedvvith the breaking mechanism, in the positionsoccupied during the sheetfeeding operation. H Fig.. 6 isa view. similar to Fig. 5 as show 60 mg.the same parts in the next advanced po` sition and immediately beforethe breaking. operation-takes place. i

Fig. 6a is a. viewin vertical sectiontaken. online 6a, 6? of Fig.. .6.

F ig. (5" isa detailed vieuT cofrespondingl to F 5b andl showing thepositions of the locking device WhenV the breaking mechanism is in theposition-shown inF ig. 6. i K

Figui1 is anenlargeddetailedview ofthe. 7()V breaking mechanismimmediately after the sa ne has engaged-and bent a vertical roiv of.

vsticks from the endr of the pile andimme diately before the same isgripped` in the breaking mechanism. 75

' l3.`ig..7a isa detailed .view ofi thebreaker locking. mechanism in thepositionk occupied when said breaker is. in the positionishown in Fig.7. y

Fig. 8` is a. detailed view. corresponding y toA 80 'Fig 7,.With thebreaker mechanism in itsretracted position and immediatelybefore thegum.L is ejected into` the chute ofthe Wrapping machine. f

Fie'. Sa'is a view in vertical section corre-v 35 sponding to Fig. V5band showing a sheet4 be@ ing fed onto the pile after the breakingoperation.

Fig. 9.is a4 perspective view of a pile ot' lsheetsshoiving thearrangement thereof, as 9o they are advanced toward vthe n breakingmechanism... 1

`Fig. .l0 is a perspective vien'7 of a rvertical pile 'of sticks as theyare arranged in the breaking mecha-nisnr immediately before Y th'eyareejected therefrom, and i Figs. ll and 12are detailed views of the sticksimmediatelybefore andnafter bending; and showingy the mannerfinwvhichthey are V the'actioniof the-breaking.mecha 100 nism. Y

Before describing the construction ofthe machine, a clearerunderstanding. Will follow from abrief consideration of the principleinvolved. Referring; immediately therefore'105 to Whatvv'illhereinafter`beV termed the gum pile A, Figures l and 9, and assuming` as a unit, asheet ot tum ce consisting of twenty tire connected sticks. l), thesheets are ted into a magazine located just above and to the rear otthepile A.. rFlic pile A, is decreased in thickness trom lett to right,being` twenty liv-c sticks high at the lett hand or toi-ward end anddecreases by one stick until it is reduced to one sheet at its right orrear end. To describe it iii another way the pile is so arranged thatthe top most sheet is twenty fre sticks lon` and the length ci eachsucceeding` sheet is reduced by one stick so that the lower most sheetis a single stick located at the extreme lett forward end ot the pile.

The machine operates in cycles, each cycle consisting ot the following,`major operations; l-tlie feeding;` et the sheet from the magazine on tothe 'top ot' the pile 2ftlie advancing endwise or 'forwardly o' theentire pile A a distance equal to the width of the single stick; 3arocking 'forward and in the opposite direction to increment Ot' the `gumpile, otl the breaking` mechanism C which grips the Vertical row ot'sticks A `at the forward end et the pile, breaks tlzeui ofi and recedesto its initial position; anal Ll-tlie ejection of the detached pile in alateral direction from the brea ring mechanism and by suitable ejectorinto the rertical chute D leading te the wrapping mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the ethod ot piling` the gum isan important Jfeature ot the machine, this arrangement being;characterized as a continuous process et alternately adding` horizontalrows of twenty tive sticks to the top of the pile, and removing Verticalrows ot the same number ot sticks from the end ot the pile. Thus it willbe seen that cach sheet is shortened by one stick during` each cucleuntil it reaches the bottom of the pile in the term ot a single stickand is linallyY consumed coinpletely.

lll/lith these introductorifv explanations and the principal parts ofthe machine identitled, the .structural features of the. machine ma;7now be described.

Villiile the machine may be constructed as a complete unit7 it isillustrated as a part et' a wrapping machine .and therefore will bedescribed as such.

The wrapping` machine is indicated in Fia*- ure l by a vertical pedestalE. and ferias a .support for the breaking` machine, which rests upon anunder trame or bracket l, secured to, and extendingl` outwardlyv fromthe part E ot the wrapping` machine. said bracket paving a base plate .1to which the iirain-e oi the breaking` machine is fastened. rlhebreakingr machine consists primarily et Vertical uprights or end tramemembers Q, Q. and a transverse traine member 3, extendingbetween theupper ends ot the vertical member 2, 9., and supportingl the magazine Band operating parte associated therewith. rlliese 'trame members tornithe essential parts of the machine traine although there are variousarms and brackets bolted or otherwise secured Vto these iti-ame membersfor supporting' the various operating parts ot the machine.

rihe driving' mechanism is ot the type usually eii'iplojred in machinesot this chai'- acter7 the primar;7 driving' elements beiner supportedupon the base plate la and coinprisin-g a main drive shaft Li,operatively connected with a` suitable source ot power such as a iiiotoror the driving mechanism et the wrap machine. rlhe main .shaft -iextends lon .Qitudinallj7 oit the machine a -d at its outer end carriesa bevel rear wheel 5 which meshes with a beveled rfear wheel 6 ke "LMounted on "ci". to a counter shait i'. the counter shat't 7. are twocani wheels 9 and l0. which operate the breaker mechanism and breakerlock. respectively. as hereinatter to be described. Just Jmgwardly otthe cam wheel 9, is keyed sorociret wheel ll. carrying a sprocket chaii.11L having` driving` connection with the .kf-fum pile tran.- porting,`mechanism. Y

levcd tothe main rhait l is a. cam wheel l?, haring' cani grooi'fes onboth tacos, which o ierate the Q;um feeding mechanism associated withthe magazine immediately idiant and to the rifht (Figure All ot' anwheel l2. is another, but si ole/cam wheel 18, operating the presserblockinechanisni associated with the `gum pile.

The cams are of a familiar t5/ipe. being deiigned to translate rotativemotion into lnterinittent reciprocatory motion. The cam l0. is typicalot the tjgfpc used. rhe caen wneel is provided with annular-l).7grroovcd hub 10a in which rides yoke aiifed to the lower end oit rockshatt l5. ertendine to the particular member or mechanism to beoperated. In the tace ot tie cam is irreg'ularli7 shaped groove, inwhich rines a cam roller carried by the j-:okc lll-c. sait groove androller coactina' to impart the dcsirc-fl motion to the rock shai* l'rin? sinrle revolution oli the 'clri'r'e i each cam performs a thefeneralarrangement descri ot all.r the'eioie it is proposed omit tailedd cription ot each cani, c?-

out any,Y peci'sliathat ciist in connection with are particu y the manmagazine l'consist. Y c lia-"lr and end walls 1S and (Figure The bottomwall ot the magazine, ioriiied l. y two su]V erimposed edeewi.. i ing`plates i9 and 20, tlic u Spor plate being i 19 and 20.

wardlyof the gum pile .supporting plate 21,

consisting of three inclined bars 2.1a spaced apart m parallel relation.

Goa-@ting with the supporting;F plate 21,'

is a pair of transporting members 22,. 22. Consisting of bars,arranged'on edge in the slots or spaces between the bars 211fot theplate 21 and provided along their edges with steps corresponding to theunder snrfaceoontour of the gum pile A. The num bei' of stepscorresponds to the number or sticks in a sheet'of gum, nam-ely, twentytive (25)v as shown invhigure 5; VIntermediate the ends of thetransporting bars are pairs of depending arms 28 having); pivotal conFneetion with the endsv of vertical linls 24C; which iny turn havepivoted Connection with ahorizontalpitinan or connecting rod 25,yjournalled at Yits ends upon the faces of two crank disc 26, 26journal'led uponthe frame members 2, 2, carried/by the oranlr dise26.(to the right and above: the counter'. shaft 7, Figure 1) is asprocket (not shown) which meshes vwith the sprocket ohain 11a leadingfrom the driving sprocket l10n said counter shaft 7. Y

Referring aga-in to the magazine Beitlias already been pointed out thatthe bottom thereof `consists of two 1 superimposedV Vpla ln` a word,these plates are slidable endwise outwardly `t iron (Fig. 5ft) formedbetween theI troirtj wall or dam and the vertical wall extending`npwardly iomkthe pile s-upportingtable 2l and in the pla-ne of the topofl the. pile .Az Y The bottom or carrier plate v20 is securedi carriedupon pair of `guide bars whi.

slide within guide slots 3u formed in thennl per tace of the transverse'trame me )er The guide bars 29-exte`nd rearwardly and are Aconnectedwith rocher armsv Othroupgh the medium otshortlinlrsl. i y

The upper or pusher plate 19 is actnated ina somewhat similar' manner,`being attachedfalonp; its rear eds-'e toa bar 32,;wh'icli engagesa'ilixed guide bar 33 extendingtzho Zontally and rearwardly frointherearwall lt-of the magazine and bolted in place. The. bar 32, has a pair otintegral arms;3:75"` 32,.conneeted with' a pairgot rocher. armstithrough the medinm ofi linlrs 35; is shown in Fig, 3 the rocher arms'l-4i are included between the rocker armsBG-SO and joinedtogetherbymeansot a web 86, thereby uniting the arms as a rigid'traine. Thelowerends of the rocker arms- S-l-fa; are journalled upon a shaft 3Textendingl1` li-y wise oit the machineandnear the b thereof, therebeing-suitable brackets bolt ed to the-trame members ,2g-2in1"supporting1 this shaft.' 'lllieilover ends' of? the ar' nnderstood fromupon the zum pilej without snbiectin SeL-Slhave ya 'form of hnbs 3l@andinteotral with one of the hubs, namely that'shown attlie right in 3,is an arm 39 extending;

downwardly with a slight forward inclinaf tion, said arm carrying' atits end a cani roller (not shown) en a Qing a cam groove (not shown)formed in the right handv face o the large @am wheel 12.

non-rotatably mounted at the ends oit' tie vshaft 37 and are actuated bythe rotation thereoi. Secured to the shaft 37 and intel mediate its endsis a sleeve 40, having' an f integral armv e1 depending` therefrom andinclined 1n a forwardly direction. This arm likewise carries at its enda cam roller which vrides yin the cam ,Ljrooveforined in the lelit rliemanner in whichthe sheets oit (gum are n the magazine B, will be thefollowing.: f

`In Fig. 6a the parts are shown in -a position immediately betere thepusher and discharged lfrom e carrier plates begin their forward strolreto discharge a sheet of pgum from themapazine. lt will be noted thatthepusher plate 19 is fully withdrawn and its forward mar-` gin adjacentthe rear wall loot the maenzine. f The carrier plate 2O tliron .li-- outthe bottom of the magazine vwith its for ward edlre' substantially inline with the dis-r charge slot 2T. ln this position av sheet of l`ejuma is permitted to drop onto the carrier plate and immediately in 'frontof the pusher plate 19. is soon as the bottoni sheet is in position thepusher 'and carrier plates move 1forwardly together carryi thebottoinsheetof lgum outwardly through the slotv until t iey reachthepositions shown in Fin'. 8, the pusher plate being; advaneed'inr til'its Vvforward edge reachesthe slot 27 and the carrier plate extending;beyond the slot the full widthot the gam pile n. The earrierplate thenmoves rearwardly, depositing the sheet of gum upon-the ajuin pile whereupon the pusher plate is retracted allow' f the next sheet in themagazine to drop onto the Carrier plate and in front oi the postierplate.V ln otherwords the pains moved from the positions shown in Figure5 to the positions of Figure 6a.

rlrhei functionv ot theV carrier plate is to carry the sheets Ytorwardlyand deposit them them to the detrin'iental etleets of slidingythem inContact with a lined bottoni plate andithiisx removing* the protectivecoating with whirh desirable, wine' to the weight et the sheets whichare piled upon the bottoni one. rlhus, `he only 'friction occurring`between thc sheets is between the upper surface el: the bottoni sheetand the under sui-tace et the sheet above. ln this connection, it isobserved that the corner of the vlrl it wall or dam l is cut awayalong;- an oblique line as at 1 8 (Figure thus permitting the lowersheets te assume a stepped relation tor the purpose ot preventine` thepile in the inae'a- Zine from beine' disturbed and the unitorn feedinginterrupted.

Manitestly, the movement ot the pusher and carrier plates takes place ata detinite interval in the cycle ot operation as will later be setttorth, in considering' the action` ot' the entire machine. For thepresent, therefore, it is snilicient to point out the tact thatimmediately after ach sheet is ejected 1frein the magazine l) anddeposited'on the top of the p uin pile n., that said pile is niovedbodily in an endwise direction to the lett. Thus, referring` to Figuresa' and 6, it will he observed that thel transporting bars have beenbrought upwardly into contact with the under side ot the pile fr. eachnotch or step therein engaging the rearnest edge ot each successivesheet or layer constituting' the pile. As already pointed out, the pileA decreases in thickness from lett to right and each sheet or layer frombottoni to top. projects beyond the right hand end ot the sheetimmediately below, a distance equal to the width ot a single stick ofgum. Thus, as the transpor o* bars 22 engage the under side. of the pilethe whole is moved endwise and to the lett 'trom the tull line positionto the dotted line position oi- Figure 5, the tull amount et' theadvance beine' equal to the width ot the row ot sticks at the forwardend the pile. The transporting bars 22 are actuated through the mediumot the sprocket chain lla, the crank disks 2G. the connecting; rod Ql,and the links 24,

bars describing` a circular path in a counter clockwise direction,although in all iositions l movement they are parallel with the botti inoi the zum pile.. Thus, so tar as the advancing; ot the gum pile and thereplenishment there-einv from the Magazine is concerned, the action isthat alternately depositing' a sheet on to the pile and thenadxnaneine,` the pile bodily to the lett tor the purpose ot presenting'the end row ot sticks rein-oval by the breaking; mechanism ff/ iere arecertain auxiliary devices which cooperate with the shee teer ing' andpile transportina` inan'a'ine which may be dei Again referring' to .ieobserved at the right oum pile, a lever arm er end at a point some nd otthe ,ejun'i table and` n l, is `mounted said ,l there w hand end orpivoted at i distance below to the side ot the vertical frame member 2.The upper end ot the lever el?, is bent inwardly at right angles to terma transverse stop member 40a. Connected with the lever arm is a lightcoil springl e3 which acts to exert a torce intendingto hold said leverarm inwardly and to fard the let.' linmediately below the spring` is ani ustable set screw arranged at right anales to the lever arm l2 andserving' to limit the nieveinent ot said lever arm to the lett a d underthe action ot the spring 1'@ Mounted at it). the end et one ot the.,ransportingr bars 22 is a projecting; lug 45 adapted to engage thelever arm ft2 duringeach revolution ot said bar, and tor the purpose ofmoving it to the right du e; the period that a sheetot gum is beingdelivered to the gum pile. Vlhe lever arm is setso that the stop member4t2 is in vertical alignment with the right hand extremity or thetopinost sheet ot gum, so as each sheet is delivered, the lever arm l2is carried inwardly and in the event that said sheet is noi. properlyloc-ated. it will be moved endwise by the lever arm thus insuring theproper placement oit each sheet as it is delivered troni the mag nine.

Located near the 'front end ot the gum pile is presser or clamping`plate ALG, adapted to be rocked or oscillated through small arc into andout of contact with the top oit the gum pile. As shown in Figs. l and5a, the plate is termed integral with a bell crank lever 4'? journalledupon a horizontal rock sia't't 48 and supported upon a bracket 49 boltedto the front tace ot the machine traine. rlie bell crank lever 417 ispivotally connected at its lower end to a push rod 50, having a yoke 52,mounted at its lower end which co-acts with a cam wheel 5l keyed to themain drive shaft ll. This cam tunetiens in the saine manner as alreadydescribed to oscillate the clamping plate at a predetermined interval inthe operation ot the machine. rlhe clan'iping` plate proper consists oftwo parts, namely, a iixed plate 46a and a yieldable plate llth, thelatter being` relatively thin and separated trein the lined or mainplate by means of a number oit short coil springs .E2-53. The yieldableplate 4Gb is further connected to the main plate by means of boltsextending through apertures through the plate and anchored in the plateLim). is shown in 5 the clamping plate occupies an inclined positionwherein it is raised above the top surface of the gum pile. During' thisinterval a sheet ot' fum is deposited upon the pile and immediatelythereafter the pile is advanced and then the clamping plate is broughtdown in contact with the pile and to the position shown in The pressureexerted by the clamping` plate holds the pile tightly against thesupporting table and prevents the saine troni being lifted or otherl .lr 1,598,879'

wise disturbed during `the breaking operation hereinafter A.to bedescribed.

To insure the positive action ofthe clainping plate, a heavycoilspringis connected with the lower end ofthe bell crank lever 41.17, the samevextending downwardly and fastened to the frame member 2 at a pointimmediately below and olf-set inwardly from the lower end of the bellcrank lever.

A third auxiliary mei'nber co-acting with the gum pile advancingmechanism is a; pair of levers carried upon the gum table Eandpivotallyrconnected near their left handends to the inner face of thebars 21a of gum table as shown in Figa. Y Each lever has a sharpenedpoint extending in a general upwardly direction and adapted for Contactwith the underside of a single stick of guml constituting the undermostVand foremost layer ofthe gum pile. This lever normally assumes aposition immediately below'the gum lpile and parallel withthegum table,and engages the rearmost stick of thesecond layer from the lbottom(consisting of Vtwo sticks), just prior .to thebreaking operation,whereupon the remaining single stick 'becomes'the bottomllayer.Duringtheadvance movement ofthe Ypile the rearends of the levers aredepressedso asv to disengage the pointed ends from ythe advancing stick.A small coil spring 5G is=connected intermediateV the free end andfulcrum' point of the lever, and is anchored at a suitable point dii`rectly there below. This spring serves to f yieldngly hold said lever indepressed position. Carried uponeach of the transporting barsV 22immediately adjacent the levers, is a laterally extending lug or pin 57,(Figures 6 and 7) which come infcontact with the underside of the leverjust an instant before the pile is moved bodily forward, thusV lifting`the vdepressed end of the lever and withdrawing the pointed end fromthe'bottomlay'er of gum, consisting, as clearly shown in Figure 7, of asingle remaining stick.Y The purpose of this auxiliary lever is toholdthe single stickin position, which, due to its extreme to the remainderof the pilei Having considered the gum piling and ad-` vancingmechanism, the mechanism :for breakingthe vertical rows of sticks fromthe end of the pile yA will nowfbe described. This mechanismhasheretofore beenreferred to asthe breaker C locatedlat the lefthand endof thepile A, Figure-1. The main supporting member for the Abreakermechanism is a rock shaft 604 extending crosswise'ofthe short length isliable to be displaced relativeV end ofthe machinev and rearwardly oftheforward or left Vend of the lgum pile`y supporting table. The rockshaftis journalle'd 1n suitable, journal bearings 61, 61 secured to themachine frame.

Mounted upon the rock ish-aft 60,r arev two 'y rocking frames 6,2. and63,:the former being fixedor :keyed to `the. shaft ythrough the mediumofhubs'62a engaging the shaft at its ends and centralV portions, theintermediate hub having a vpin 62b extending through it and the shaft.

vTlieframe 63 is journalled lupon the rock shaft, by means of bearingsleeves 63a, 63a, on either side of itA carries Yat its forward end, thebreaker member 64, and at ltsrea-r or opposite end, a

locking device for momentarily lookingthe frame and the directlyconnected breaker f member 64, in both the forward land reverse positionof its rocking movement. The lockmg device and its presently. f

The breaker member G4, `consists of a frame, having a widthsubstantiallyequal to thatvoflthe gum pile A arranged at an ob-` lique anglelto theframe62 to which it is rigidly connected bysuitable connectingmeans.

purpose will be set forth j o At the lower edge of tie breaker frame fGill, is a laterally extending j awVv 64a terminatingzat itsfforwardedge opposite the edge of the gum supporting table 2l, and in alignmentwith the axis of the rock shaft 60, as shown inFigures to S inclusive.The jaw 6a forms an integral part of the breaker frame which alsoincludes ar back plate 64b inc-lined vrearwardly `at an angle of about300 to the vertical when the-top surface of the jaw 64a is horizontalasshown in 4]3`igure `5; rfhejaw 64 and back plate Gil form twol sidesof a rectangular cavity or'recess which embraces the end rowof sticks ofthe" gum pile at each forward oscillation of the breaker frame,.thethird orvtop member being la movable jaw65, located opposite the lower jaw Gela and spaced above it a distance substantially equal to the heightof the forward pile of .sticks of the gum.' pile A. The movable jawmember consists 4of vertically sliding blocksa, 65", one above the otherand separated by coil springs 66. Thelo'wer block has `an oblique undersurface parallel to thetop surface of the lower jaw. The blocksare..movable'through'la llimited distance by Ia` toggle device, (Figs. 7and 8) arranged asfollows: A pair of toggle links 67, 67, are locatedjust above the movable jaw 65,-and centrally of the breaker frame, one'Aofi'said links being pivotally connected to the fil y CI( 67 at theupper edge ot the frame in line with the movable pivot point. The innerends ot the link are pivotally connected t0- gether and at the end oit atransverse link 68 extending rearwardly through a slot 69 in the breakertrame and pivotally connected to the frame 63.

Thus it is seen that the breaker member 64e, is actuated as part of theframe 62, about the axis of the rock shaft (30, and the trame the pileA, and swung rearwardly to ejecting position.

lt is important now to observe the manner in which the breaker mechanismis actuated. Referring to Figures 1 and 5, a push rod 70 extendsobliquely across the ront of the machine, from a cam wheel 7l mounted onthe counter shaft 7, to alink pivotally connected to the lower portionof the frame 63. rlhe push rod is actuated with a reciprocating movementthrough the medium of a yoke 73, coacting with the cam wheel 71, in thesame manner as the cams heretotore described. The movement ot the frame63, is therefore a rocking or oscillatory movement about the rock shaftGO, the 'orward and rear position being shown in Figures 6 and 7respectively. The breaker member (Se is rocked or oscillated indirectlythrough the connecting link 68, trom the upper end ot the trame G3, tothe toggle levers 67, G7, and thence through the breaker trarne 64rtothe frame 62 itself, its movement being derived entirely from themovement of the positively actuated trame 63, although due to theflexing ot the toggle links the two frames do not rock together. This isimportant since the gripping action ot the Vjaw Gel and G5 is dependentupon relative movement of the oscillating` parts.

The action vof the breaker mechanism as thus far described will beunderstood from the following:

During the advanced movement oit' the gum pile by the action ot' thetransporting bars Q2, which momentarily engage the bottom of the pileand then recede, in their circular movement, the breaker member is inthe position shown in Figures 5 and 6, and about to be moving upward tothe position shown in Figure 7.

Assuming that the gum pile A has been advanced endwise and toward thebreakerl member 64, to the position shown in Fig.Y 6,

:tessere it will be seen the foremost portion is carried onto the lowerjaw Gela ot the breaker frame Gil, and further, that the end surface otthe pile is inclined to the vertical and in a direction away from thebreaker. ln this position the breaker member is about to start itsmovement toward the pile A, the move-- ment being transmitted to thebreaker frame, from the rock trame G8, through the link 68 and togglelinks G7, 67 which are r'lexed, so that the movable aw G5 is drawnupward ly and the recess'therein opened to its fullest extent. frsclearly shown in Figure 7, initial contact ot' the breaker member withthe gum pile bends the forward row ol" f sticks A upwardly at an angleot' about e5 to the horizontal, this being sutlicient to partially breakthe several sticks along the score lines. This action is more clearlyshown in Figures 1l and 12, in which two single sticks are shown beforeand after-.the bending operation. The bending action is manifestlyaccompanied by a shitting oi the sticks in the plane o1 their'contactingsurfaces, and for this reason the jaw is retracted so that no pressureis applied from the top during the bending operation. However when thebending` has been completed and the breaker member has reached its fulladvanced position Figure 7, there takes place a relative movementbetween the trames G2 and (53, consisting ot a. slight retraction ot theframe 63, while the breaker member remains stationary. This relativemovement is clearly represented by the dotted line position ot the armof the trame G8, in Figure 7, and this movement is sufficient tostraighten the toggle links and bring the jaw into gripping contact withthe vertical row ot sticks A, as shown in dotted lines `Figure 7.lnasmuch as the movement ot the breaker fram-e is derived through thetrame 63, and the connecting link G8, it is necessary to momentarilylock the breaker frame so as to obtain the relative movement required tostraighten the toggle links. This is the function of the locking devicewhich will be hereinafter described, but for the present it can be assuned that the instant the gripping takes place the lockingI devicereleases and the breaker moves away from the pile A, thus completelysevering or pulling the row A a 'ay from the pile and carrying it to theposition of Figure S. During the return movement the toggle levers 67,G7 remain in straightened position, thus holding the jaw G5, inclamping` engagement with the row A which now assumes the arrangement ofsticks shown in Figure 10.

At this point, there is another slight torward movement of the frame G3,relative to the breaker member, which is sufficientto lleX the togglelinks (37, G7 thereby releasing the grip of the movable aw 65, with thellU yso

ble adapted to supporta pile 'of sheets of rthe material to be broken,means for intermittently advancing ,said pile endw'ise a predetermineddistance, ,y ya breaking member acting intermittently to grip and breakthe advanced portion'of said pile, and means for discharging said broken"portion from said breakermember. c 'i 8.,`In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combination of amaterial' supporting member on vvhich thematerial in the form of scored sheets is piled, so that "each successive.sheet .from top to bot-tom of sheets lof gum, consisting of connectedsticks, one end of said.y pile being thev -ull said pile is shortened atone endby a predetermined amount,an oscillating breaker memberlocatedadjacent the opposite enti of said pile, and means'for advancing saidpile into the patli'of'said breakermember whereby vertical rows Yof thematerial is successively brokenalong the score lines from the advancedendy of said pile.

9. In a' machine of 'the character described, the combination 'of aninclined sheet supporting table and adapted to support a pile of sheetsof material scored transversely to form a predetermined vimmber ofsma'ller@ units, means for feedingr sheets onto said pile, means forintermittently advancing the pile endvvise, a distance equal tothe-Widthof one unit, and* breaker mechanism operating to Yremove theend vertical row of units'aft-er each advance movement of said pile. Y

lO. In a machine 'of the character described, the combination cfa member'or ing sheets fof), the material ltebeb the, tcp of zsaidple, means forinteri ittent= supporting a pile of ,the materialte` be broken, in theform of sheets, sheet feeding mechanism, pile advancingr mechanism and ibreaking mechanism, vsaid Amechanisms being operative in cycles, tosuccessively break from the end of the,y pile a quantity of the materialequal to that fed'tothepile-during eachcycle. f I Y l1. In a machineofthe character described, the ,combination of a supporting table, meansfor feeding scored sheets oi' the material onto a pilev supported onsaid table,

means for intermittentlyadvancing thel pile horizont-ally through andistance Yequalft'o the distance between score lines, breaker mecha-`nism actingto bend `'and break the Amaterial at successive score lines,and vmeans Vfor ej ecting the broken ,material from the breakermechanism. Y L

12. In a, machine of the `characterdescribed, the combination cfa'` pilesupportin of, member, means for intermittently `feedf ly advancing saidpile a predetermined dis-` y' A,tance forwardly-after each sheetisadded, and mechanism acting V'to intermittently break 'and vremovethev 'advanced end 'por- Vtions of said pile.

V13. In la machine of the character described, the Vcombination of apile supporting member, means `for intermittently :feeding sheets ofthematerial to be broken, onto said pile, said sheets consisting of smallerunits connected by `parallel score lines and mechanism 'acting tol breakand removel a vertical row of units from one end ofsaid "pile, aftereach feeding operation,`A said'row` consisting of the same number ofunits con-` stituting each sheet as fed tosaid pile.

, 14. In va ymachine of the character, de-

scribed, 'the combination 0f a supporting y member adapted to support apile'of'scored thickness of the sheets, each sheet ybeing reduced by onestick ktoward the other end ber of sticks onto said pile, means forinltermittently advancing said Vpile endvvise a Vdistance equal tothewidth of one stick.

whereby eachV sheet from top to bottom et Vthe pile is reduced in lengthby one stick,

and breaker mechanism acting intermittent-l lyto break rows of sticksfrom the advanc- -ing endof said pile, the number of sticksin each row.being equal to the number of sticks in eachsheet as they are fed tosaid pile.-

1,6. In VVa` machine of theV kcharacter described, the combination 'ofan yinclined table and adapted Vvto support a pile .of scored sheets ofgum, each consisting initially of a v,predetermined number ot 'connectedsticks,

and said pile arranged so that` each sheet `from topto bottoni isreduced in length from one end ofthe pile by one stick, means 'forintermittently feeding sheets onto Vsaid pile, means for Vadvancing saidpile forivardly a distance substantially equalV to the Width of oneAstick, and means for breaking and removing aV vertical row yof sticksfrom the forwardend of said pile, after each advancenient.

"17. In` a machine of the-character described, the combination of amagazine adapted to contain a supply of sheets, scored transverselyntoform a predeterminednumber of connected sticks, a table adjacent saidmagazine adapted to support a pile of said sheets, means :fork feedingthe sheets frein said magazine onto said pile, means for advancing saidpile endwise after each feeding operation, and breaker mechanism locatedadjacent one end of said table and operating intermittently to break andremove the vertical row of sticks from the adsaid sheets being depositedon top of a pile in which the sheets are graduated from end to end, andfrom top to bottom by one stick, and co-acting mechanisms forsuccessively adding a sheet to the top of the pile, advancing the pileforwardly, and breaking the advanced vertical row of sticks from saidpile.

19. In a machine of the character described the combination of a tableadapted to support a pile of scored sheets of gum, feeding mechanism forsupplying` sheets to the top of said pile, means for advancing the pilea predetermined distance along said table, and breaker mechanism actingto successively bend and break the advanced end portion of said pile,along the vertically aligned score lines.

20. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of avertical delivery chute, a magazine adapted to retain a supply of scoredsheets of gum, means for discharging the sheets from said magazine,means for supporting the sheets in a vertical pile, and a breakermechanism adjacent one end of said pile and comprising an oscillatingbreaker member having fixed and movable jaws, adapted to bend and breaksuccessive piles of sticks from the end of said pile, during theoscillation thereof toward said pile, and co-acting mechanism forreleasing said jaws and ejecting the sticks from said member during thereturn oscil- V lation.

Vce

Q1. In a. machine of the character described, the combination of asupporting table, means for maintaining a pile of sheets of the materialon said table, a transporting member operative to intermittently engagethe bottom of the pile and advance the same in a horizontal directionand through a predetermined distance along said table, an oscillatingbreaker member mounted at the end of said table and operating to breaksuccessive end portions from said pile and means for ej ecting thebroken material from said breaker member.

22. In a machine of the character described.lthe combination of atableradapted to support a pile of sheets of the material to be broken,means for feeding sheets onto said table, a rotative transporting memberadapted to engage said pile and advance it bodily along said table, andthrough a predetermined distance, a breaker member mounted foroscillatory movement adjacent the table, and comprising jaws betweenwhich the end of the pile is advanced at the end of each forwardoscillation, means for actuating the jaws to grip and break the endportion of the pile, and means for releasing the jaws and ejecting thematerial gripped thereby.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pilesupporting member, means for feeding sheets ofA material onto said pile,means for advancing said pile endwise, and through a predetermineddistance, and breaker mechanism mounted at the end of said pilesupporting member and comprising fixed and movable jaws, and means foractuating the movable jaw members into clamping engagement with the endportion of the pile after the fixed jaw has engaged and bent the same atan angle to the pile.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aninclined pile supporting table adapted to support a pile of scoredsheets of gum each consisting initially of a predetermined number ofconnected sticks, means for intermittently feeding sheets onto saidpile, means for advancing the pile bodily after each feeding operation apredetermined distance beyond one end of the table, an oscillatingbreaker member mounted at the end of .said table, and having a recessadapted to engage and bend the advanced end portion of said pile alongthe endmost score lines, means operative after the bending operation toclamp the bent end portion in the breaker member, whereby the same isbroken from the end of the pile, and means for releasing and ejectingthe broken end portions from the breaker member.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a tablefor supporting a pile of sheet material adapted to be broken alongparallel score lines, means for feeding the sheets onto said pile, abreaker member mounted adjacent one end of said table. mechanism foroscillating said breaker member, mechanism for advancing said piletowardsaid breaker member, the latter acting in its forward movement tobend the end portion of the pile along the end-most score lines, and aclamping` jaw carried by said breaker'member, and operative to clamp thebent end portion of the material whereby the same is broken from thepile in the return movement of said breaker member,

Y 26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of amagazine in which a supply of scored sheets is maintained, means forfeeding the sheets from a slot at the base of said magazine and comloa)lll)

said pile.

Which the sheets vare successively discharged,

and mechanism operating intermittently and during the interval betweeneach sheet feeding operation to break the end-inost scored portionsifromone end of the pile. A

27. Inl a machine of the character described, the combination ofstationary table, a pile of scored; sheets supportedon said table,mechanism vassociated with said table for advancing saidpile bodily onsaid table, oscillating breaker mechanism mounted adjacent the table andoperative after each advance movementof the pile tobreak the advancedend portion from said pile.v and ejecting mechanism associatedv Withsaid vbreaker mechanism, and actuated by said sheet feedm ing mechanismfor 'ejectingthe Vbroken end portion from said 'breaker mechanism,simultaneously With the feeding. of a sheet onto 28. In a machine of thecharacter Vdescribed, the' combination of a sheet supply magazine` atable, a" pile of scoredsheets supported on said table, a dischargechute, a main drive shaft, a` plurality ofcam actuated Imechanismsdriven from said shaft, and

comprising sheet feeding mechanismassoci-V ated With said magazine, piletransporting membersassociated With said tableoscillat ing breakermechanism located at one'end of said table, and ejector mechanismassociated Withsaid ,breaker mechanism, v.said mecha- I Anisms beingactuated successively in the order named and in cycles, whereby duringeach cycle, a sheet is fed, to the pile, 'the pileadvanced Vbodilytoward said breaker` mechanism, a V'vertical stack of material brokenalong vertically aligned score lines from the. end of the pile, and thesame ejected into said chute.

29. In a machine of -the character described, the combination ofstationary pile Cri supporting member, means for'alternately yfeedingscored sheets onto' saidpile and ad-L vancing the ypile bodilyalong said table, I

whereby a constant quantity of material is maintained in saidV pile,breaker mechanism acting after each pile advancing operation to breakthe end vertical row of scored elements from thepile, and ejectormechanism piled, means for intermittently ejecting the bottom sheet fromsaidmagazine onto the top of a pile supporter-lori said table, and`means for Y breaking the end portion from said pile/,after each sheetisadded.

3l. In a" machine ofthe character described, the combination of amaterial supporting table, a magazine adjacent said table i "inWhichsheets of the `.material are piled,

Yportion from said pile.

32. Ina machine of the character .described, the combination of amaterial snpporting table, a magazine adjacent said table in whichsheets of the material are piled,`

means for intermittently ejecting the bottoni sheet 'from said magazineonto the top of a pile supported on said table, and compris- Ving acarrie plate movable in a horizontal plate towards and from Vsaid pile,and constituting the Vbottom Wall of said magazine,

Vand a pusher plate superimposed upon said carrier plate and adapted toengage the rear edge of the bottom sheet in said magazine, andmeans forreciprocating said plates.

33. In a machine vof the character described, the combination ofamaterial supporting member adapted to support a pile of material, meansfor feeding succes-sive sheetsof material onto said pile, means forintermittently adi'iancing said pile, means 4for breaking the endportion of said pile after each advance movement of said pile,

and means for clamping said pile to 'sa-id,

.supporting*member during the breaking operation. u j

In a inachineof the character described, the ccmbinatioii of a material.sup

porting member adapted to support a pile Vof material, means for feedingsuccessive lsheets of material onto saidpile, means act- .f `ingintermittently to break one end portion from said pile, and a clampingmember op erative to clampsaid pile against said supporting Vmemberduring the action of the breaking means. v

`35. In a machine of the character described,y the combinationv ofamaterial supy porting member adapted to support a pile of material to bebroken, mean-s for feeding successive sheets ofinaterial onto said pile,a breaker member mountedadjacent said supporting member, means forintermittently advancingTk said pile toward said breaker member, land aclamping plate mounted above said pile and operative during theactionrof said breaker member, to

clamp said pile` against movement relative to the pile supportingmember. i,

36. A machine for the purpose described, comprising means forsupportinga quantity transversely to form appredetermined num= n of gumin the form of a Vpile of sheetsscored iso ber of connected sticks, eachsheet below the top sheet having one stick removed from one end, therebyreducing the bottom sheet to a single stick, means for successivelyfeeding sheets onto said pile and means tor successively breaking thesticks from the one end ot each sheet together' with the bottom sheet,the sticks thus removed being equivalent to the number of sticks in thesheets as fed onto said pile.

37. A machine for the purpose described, comprising co-acting mechanismsoperating alternately to augment a pile ot' scored sheets of gumsupported in said machine by the addition oii sheets to said pile, andto deplete said pile by the breaking o the end portions from the sheetsor' said pile, the number of sticks broken therefrom being equal to thenumber added thereto in sheet form.

3S. In a machine o1C the character dcscribed, the combination oi meansfor supA porting the material to be broken in the 'form of plurality ofscored sheets superimposed upon each other with the corresponding scorelines otliset to register with lines ot' breakage inclined to thevertical and breaker mechanism acting to bend and break successive endportions along said inclined lines of breakage.

39. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of meansiior supporting a plurality of sheets of gum scored to form a pluralityof connected sticks, said sheets being superimposed with correspondinglines of scoring, inclined to the Vertical, and a breaker member forbending and breaking successive end portions from the end of said pileand along said inclined score lines.

Ll0. A machine of the character described,

comprising means for arranging a plurality ot' scored sheets of gum intoa pile with corresponding score lines odset to provide lines of breakageinclined to the vertical, and means for reducing said pile into sticks,

yby bending and breaking the endmost stacks determined relation o thesheets in said pile and means for breaking superimposed end portionstrom said pile.

4Q. A machine 'tor the purpose described, comprising a pile supportingmember, means for feeding sheets of gum onto said pile, said sheetsbeing scored to form connected sticks, means for positioning each sheetas it is fed to said pile, to establish yertically inclined lines otbreaking coinciding with the corresponding score lines oi' the sex-'eralsheets, means for intermittently advancing said pile endwise, andbreaker mechanism acting intermittently to bend and break successive endportions from said pile and along said inclined lines of breakage.

43. A machine of the character described, comprising meansfor-maintaining a constant supply of scored sheets oi: gum in pile iorm,and means for continually reducing said pile to sticks arranged insuperimposed relation, and means for ejeeting said sticks from saidmachine.

ln Witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 19th day ofSeptember A. D., 1923.

VILLET B. RANNEY. ARTHUR E. JOHNSON.

